What You Should Know About Squirrels

There are few creatures across America, whether you’re a city dweller or reside in the country that are as well recognized as your neighbor the squirrel. Anybody who has a lawn or took their lunch to the park has come face to face with them. They sit there and look all cute… and we feed them. They win! But not really, they ought to be out eating their natural food instead of our sandwich.

If you have ever had a bird feeder and you have battled wits’ with a squirrel. Do not take it personal… after all they don’t have T.V. or computer. They are smart, agile, and quick you’ve got to be on your feet when dealing them. That’s why I love them! There’s been many disagreements on the best way best to keep them out of things! As we figure out a way to put out the seed they figure out a way to reach it. However, in their defense, their 4 front teeth are always growing so they have to nibble constantly to keep their teeth from growing too large. If not they can’t crack nuts or eat properly. We’ve rehabbed squirrels for more than a decade and they still keep us on our toes. When squirrels are presented with a challenge you can just see their small wheels turning at high speed and… BAM! They’ve a strategy and are in movement.

Over 200 species of squirrels fall into 3 major groups; Tree or Fox Squirrels that make nests in trees, Ground Squirrels which nest in tunnels beneath rocks, and Flying that occasionally seem to live more like birds… high up in the trees.

Here in Colorado, mom Tree Squirrels will have her babies in either February or August. It is dependent on her and environmental elements. She will select a warm safe spot and fill it with leaves, inner bark, along with other soft things. After all who knows what Colorado weather will probably have in store for them? She’ll have 2-8 babies. At about 3 months their eyes and ears open.

It will require 8-10 weeks for mom to completely wean them. When rehabbing squirrels it takes until around 10-12 weeks for us to have them weaned. We give them all natural meals (we hide around cage while they’re hiding in nest box) so they can be released back into the wild. Whether the young squirrel resides with their “actual” family or with our surrogate family it will be 2-3 months for them to go out on their own.

Squirrels have a basic diet which they all consume. Other insects, Raccoon Removal Melbourne, FL, corn, many different vegetables and plants are all on the main diet, however, the diet also varies on location. For example a squirrel that resides in the tree in your garden will eat more sunflower seeds than the squirrel that lives in the country.